Spotlight on Riesling
Riesling, Erdenlied – 2022 $12.96
This wine strikes a bright balance between the aromatic flourish of Alsace and the crisp minerality of the dry German style. One good thing to know about Austrian Rieslings is that they are almost all bone dry, even when showing fruit or minerality. Nice aromatic notes of honeysuckle and stone fruit on the nose give way to a crisp, mineral structure and a zippy, dry finish. The liter size makes this perfect for parties, but for me, it’s great when I have a party of one. – Josh Mizrahi, Sales Manager
Riesling Feinherb, Später-Veit – 2022 $18.99
Here’s the ideal wine for summertime drinking: light, fresh, and delicious. Feinherb is an unregulated term that usually denotes a wine that’s a little too sweet to be considered dry (or “Trocken”). Später-Veit walks that fine line with crisp mineral acidity balanced with a light kiss of sweetness. Where there’s residual sugar, there’s low alcohol, which is perfect for the humidity of a New York summer. Kick back and beat the heat with this super yummers Riesling! – Josh Mizrahi, Sales Manager
Riesling Kabinett “Jean-Baptiste”, Gunderloch – 2022 $19.96
A treat from the Rheinhessen. This mineral-driven, off-dry, luscious, and peachy treat of a Riesling was exactly what I wanted to signal the official end to summer. On the nose: lovely honeyed peach and white flower. On the palate: citrus with a vibrant acidity that brings energy and playfulness. This is what you want at the table with good friends or funny strangers. I’m drinking this wine while tearing away at some Bavarian Rye with some fresh butter slapped on. A bit of good company to top it off, and that’s all you need in life. Be sure to stock up. This won’t stick around long in your wine fridge. – Evan Cucciniello, Astor Wines & Spirits Consultant
Artania White, Beykush $20.96
A kitchen sink blend that tastes like the sum of its constituent parts and is yet still totally unexpected. Without intending to be dramatic, I genuinely haven’t tasted a wine quite like this before. The bright acidity of Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, and Chenin are tempered by the riper, chewier notes from Chardonnay and Rkatsiteli, bringing what might seem like an unruly beast into a lovely, harmonious balance. Pour a glass and try not to be reminded of opening a bag of peach rings when you were a kid. But what is perhaps most unexpected about this wine is the place from which it comes to us: the Black Sea coast of Ukraine. That the blend of grapes works is a surprise; that the wine has made it here at all is nothing short of amazing. – James Angelos, Astor Wines & Spirits Consultant
Swick, The Flood White – 2022 $25.96
Joe Swick’s Flood is a perennial favorite of ours. Swick is a low-intervention winemaker who sources grapes from organic vineyards in Washington and Oregon. He is masterfully skilled at blending. The Flood blends 7 varietals, each grown in their own single vineyard, and are vinified separately. They are macerated on their skins for 30 days and aged in old barrels. This is styled more like a Georgian wine with its amber hue and earthy aromatics. I found flavors of pineapple, tea, pine, and lavender. Give this baby plenty of time to open up. I found that it was most expressive on the fourth day. Delicious with a beefy washed rind cheese. – Chung Park, Astor Wines & Spirits Consultant